Spaceband cleaning machine



April 2o, `1948. s, SOFNAS 2,439,911

SPACE BA ND CLEANING MACHINE' Filed April 2, 1945 Patented Apr. 20, 1948 Y f CE 1 llLGlaims (Cl..51-.151)

4lhefpresentinvention relates fto'- a' machine ifor :Theaimadhine ,foffthe :present invention yoom-- :cleaning 'the `space bands used in!Linotypey maprises endivwallsfl'andatpto' .winch .lateral `en- -ohines. `is well'known n'fthefartfthere-is 'a closing walls xaresecured @by lbolts 'H .andf'SUa-or ftendency l'for type metal-to cling and accumulate {thec-like;t oneilaterahwallttBabeingshown fragmen- =atithecastingpoint upon-the sleeves of sucnspace 5 tarilyn Fig. r1. End closure :t3 esupDOTtS 'remov- 'ban'ds, and; anfaccumulatlon -of suchnre't'al hasa faible bearings lla .'forslide AirodszZi) .and`2 Iatione l"deleterious L"effect upon fthe -svpacefban'ds andthe vendr'yf.fait:aTI-iageL-ZZ; and end olosurefl Eatthe op- =matrieeso`fthe ftypeffont. :posite fend fof thesframezworkzsupports :a remov- Various forms of means have n=been provided ablebearing Iibiforza sliderod 23 atLtheopposite inthe priorartorpreventingfor uremoving vthe `yI0 end of said carriage. zAllzof-said,bearingsare'se- Iaccumulation lof metalybut few if any -ofthem :cured to .theirirespeotive rendwwallsi .and liby vhave'methwlth@commmercial success. "Itis still 'zboltswHL Asiis cleamlyitobeseengtheecarriage22 -standard fpracticeto remove the set -of space iisn-eciprocable'fvuthingthe:frameorhouslng ofthe Ebands from fthe space'lband. box, periodically, and machine.

to clean and `1ubricate them E,by manually rubbing t5 In the illustrated :embodiment ,of-theemachine, them upon -a'boardf-coated with graphite. This two such carriages are mounted: but .cnlvone of operation-'isnotonlyltime consuming,lbut-tedious; ithem is fully shown. (i,orifesponding.parts ofithe land the l'operator is very-likely to'become's'lovenly second carriage fare 'designated irby :primed nuand'vneg'lect to clean thespace -bands as oftenas merals. V`standard practice requires -loecause -of the G20 onefendirof wthevcarriage'there al'eiDIOVided `'mono'tony andarduousness Jof ltheoperation. fail3-2ti111faligned, Mlistandinia' ears 24 .and 'f2 5y S1110- Tuieprimary objectofethemresent'inventionis :porting a rodr26iwhichjs held against oscillation to-'provideamachineso constructed astosupport withirespeotto saldiearsbysetrscrews 21 and-.28. two or morespace bands and -operable to `clean Interdi.gfitated .between said ears are a pair :of the same bymechanically rubbing' them against *25 fears aand 302-0Sci11atab1eupcnsaid-rod126fand a plane'surfacecoatedwith graphite, the'rubbing LXd With'repeotwaupport3I. 'Thus-thesim- 'operation being VVaccomplislmed with a mim-mum .port-3 I :is-mounted uponithe carriage 2:2 iforgoscil- -of Lmort, 'and with `automatic uniformity. Furflationahout tlhe axisfof the rod/26.

-'ther Aobjects vof A`Jthe invention are 4-to provide The Opposite end 32 of the supporti-3l is-guided specificdetails of iimprovedstruf'ztureinsuch a "30 .lbetweema pair -of @lates y33 and f3.4 secured to a machine. block 35tat-thefendnof the carriage Z2-'opposite the To the accomplishment of `the above and -re position Qftheyearsd andfz. :Said endtzof the ilated'fobjecta'my invention may -beembodied'in supporti-I is-supporteduponfan adjustablescrew 4the*formillustrated in stheacconripanying draw- 36,1threadedly mounteddnaI boss projecting from Aings-attention-beingcalled'fto theffactghowever, "35 .thebaSei-Of the carrageffandadapted t0 be ythatthe drawings are Tvillustrativeonly, and that -held in -zadjusted iposition .by a `set screw 37.

- change may be made =in thev specific' construction lGarried -adj acont' -one 'end -of thev support -3 I Vis villustratedfanddescribed'solong asithe scope-of zantigens-8,14 engaging:thefpointedendV of the'notch -theappended-claims-is-not violated. v39 fof afspacebandllily .satdnger 38 being ad- FigQl-i-s alongitudinal-elevation-of a machine "40 rjustably-held imposition upon thesupportrI by constructedl inl'accordance with the ipresent inian adjusting boltAu Thebolt-40passes through ventiom :parts being'broken' awayior clarity of i-l- Zan :elongated slotAU .in .fthe sidewall of the fsup- `lustration;and-certain'partsbeing shown-:insecport.3l,and .engages ,thelbase -38' `r4of the yfinger 'M0113 $8. Obviously, ifthetboltAUis looseneithat bolt,

Figa -2tisazplan'fview"offthe'machine'offFig. 1, 45 and .therefore the .ngermay .be shifted'lonparts being" broken awayand gitudinallylof ,the support ,3I, .within the rangeof rligntlistatfragmental transversesectiontaken the `slot '4112 Secured Lto the ,support 3I`.on op- *sub'stantially onthe line'3-3 offiig. 2. posite-sides of a Wooden pad 45. are pair ofllosts "In#Fig. `'2,-'I' havees'hown afspacebandl' of-con 4I and 42 adapted to engage beneath the shoul- `vention-al construction, provided v-4withk the usual 50 ders`^l3 and I4 of `a spaceband when such space tslide I I' I. "In" accordance with-standardpractice band s Jpositioned-on the .pad 4.5 AWithts notch the space band is formed at one end with'aslot 69 fsnuglyreceiving thenger 38.

i lil-'andfattitscopposite erfd.'withufliens'tariiiard` V- At the .opposite ,end of the support "34 .iS shaped notch ';39; vfilanked by the "Shoulders |53 emounted a'nger i3 engafiealole in 4the notch' I2,o'f -and|a. 15 ,the spacebami, said'rmger being adjustabiy positioned upon the support 3| through the medium of an adjusting bolt 44, the arrangement corresponding to that above described with the finger 38. Obviously, the parts 38 and 43 will be adjusted, in relation to the posts 4| and 42, to such positions that a space band of standard proportions and dimensions, when associated with said elements, will be stationarily held upon the wooden pad 4 5 secured to the uppermost face of the support 3| by-r'neans of screws 46, or the'like. Incidentally, it is to be notedfth'at the pad 45 is formed with opposed finger notches 41 and 48 to facilitate the placing of space bands upon said 4 into engagement with the exposed upper face of a space band i9 supported upon the pad 45.

A bracket 18 is secured, by means of bolts 19 or the like, to that end of the frame adjacent the hinge rod I; and said bracket is formed to provide a bearing 88 in which is journalled the midportion of a shaft 8l. Said shaft includes a reduced end portion 32 upon which is suitably fixed a gear 83; and a pin 84 threadedly secured to vsaid gear at a point eccentric with respect to the shaft extension 82, projects from the outermost face of said gear 83 and receives one end of a pitman 85. Said pin is headed at 85 to retain the pad, and the removal of such space bands therefrom.

At one end of the frame there'are provided upstanding aligned ears 49 and 50 adapted to support a rod 5l, said ears being provided with set screws 52 and 53 for securing said rod against oscillation. A cover plate 54 is formed with aligned ears 55 and 56 adapted to straddle said ears 49 and 5!) and to Vbe 'journalled upon the rod 5l.` Collars 51 and58 Ymay be suitably secured Yto the projecting Vends of the rod 5l to complete the hinging association of the cover 54 with the frame. At the end of said cover plateremote from said ears 55 and'56 there Visprovided a tongue 59 cooperable'with a spring latch element 8D; and there is 'further provided a Vhandle 6I for manipulating 'said cover plate.

Substantially'midway between the ends of the cover plate, said plate is formed with a port 62 vertically aligned with the carriage 22. Said port is guarded by a fitting 63 formed to provide a cylinder inv which is reciprocably mounted a plunger 64.

Said' barrel 63 lfurther contains a spring 85 bearing against the upper end of said .plunger 84, the opposite ends of said spring abutting against a cap 66 threadedly associated with the barrel 63. The cap 66 isperforated to permit the passage ofA a stem 61, which stem is a reduced portion of the plunger 64, said` stem being headed, as at 68, by a disc threaded thereon. It will be seen thatthe spring 365 urges the plunger 64 always inwardly with respect to the cover plate 54, and that the disc 68 acts to limit the movement of the plunger 64 under the influence of the spring 65.

The inner end of the plunger 64 is slotted to receive an ear 69 pivotally mounted upon a pin traversing the slotted end of said plunger. Said ear 69 is integral'with a presser member 1l which is provided, adjacent its opposite ends, with upstanding plates 1 2Aand 13 received, respectively, in openings' 14 and 15 in the cover plate. Said openings are suitably guarded, in a manner laterto be described, so that the plates 12'and 13 are permitted to move within their own plane, but are restrained against movement out of such plane. It will Vbe noted, from an examination of Fig. 2, that the plane defined by said plates includes the axis of the plunger 64. Thus, the presser member 1l is guided for limited oscillation about the Pivot pin 10, and for reciprocation in the axial line of the plunger 64, but is held against other movement with respect to the cover plate 54.

Secured to the under face of the presser member 1l, by means of screws 11, or the like, is a wooden pad 15 formed to provide a plane surface parallel with the plane'of movement of the carriage 22; and, when the cover plate 54 is closed, the spring 65 'acts to urge said surface resiliently pitman in place. The opposite end of said pitman 86 is journalled upon the rod 25, whereby rotation of vthe shaft 8l will result in reciprocation of the carriage 22.

The opposite end of the shaft 8l is enlarged to form a wheel 88 which carries a headed pin 81 similar to the pin 85. A pitman 85 has one end mounted-upon said pin 81 and has its opposite end associated with the companion carriage, in the same manner inwhich the pitman 861s associated with the carriage 22. As shown, and preferably, Ythe pins and-8,1 are equidistant from the shaft axis, but are peripherally spaced apart so that the two carriages Will be equally and oppositely reciprocated, upon rotation of the shaft 8l.

A second bracket 89, suitably secured to the frame by bolts 98 orthe like, provides a hub 9| aligned with a hub 93 on the bracket'18, said hubs providing a journal mounting for a shaft 62. Said shaft carries a gear 94, whose pitch diameter is preferably much greater than that of the gear 8,3, with which said gear 94 meshes. The gear 94 is held against axial movement upon the shaft 92 by a setvscrew 95 threaded into its hub, and said shaft, in turn, is held against axial movement by a collar S6 fixed to said shaft on one side of the hub 9i, and a collar 91 fixed tovsaid shaft on the otherside of said hub 9i. The collar 61 carries'a crank 98, in theillustrated embodiment of the invention, whereby the gear 94 may be rotated.. Obviously, Vthe shaft 8i may alternatively be driven from any source of power.

It will be vclear that, inuse, the spring latch 69 may be shifted to the left to release the tongue 59, whereupon the handle-6l may be manipulated to raise the cover plate 54 about its hinge axis 5I. This opens the machine, so that a pair ofspace bands l!) may be mounted upon the pads 45 of the two carriages.A The plane surfaces of the pads 16 are then treated with graphite (and, if desired, powdered graphite may also be sprinkled upon the exposed surfaces of the space bands); and the cover 54 is then closed, the spring latch 60 reengaging the tongue 59. Thus, the plane surfaces of the pads 16 are pressed against the exposed surfaces of the space bands by the springs 65. Now, if `the crank 98 is turned the two carriages will be equally and oppositely. reciprocated, at relatively high speed, whereby the exposed surfaces of the space bands are rubbed against the treated plane surfaces of the pads 16,. Thus said space bands are quickly cleaned.

Now, the machine is reopened and the space bands are turned over to expose the surfaces which previously were in engagement with the pads 45, the machine Vis closed, and the above operations repeated to clean such newly exposed surfaces.

YI preferably construct the machine to permit various adjustments lto compensate for slight variations'in the alignment of its associated parts.

sarcasm shown in :.Figf; theebarrelumember: 63

fris formed fwithaa ibasezflange F99 sprcvided `with -diametricallycepposedslots .1 l ;openmg-rthrough may be shifted, tossome:fextentjftransverselyvof the cover member; randuaftersuchaadiustment is the:barrel member in place.

E Similarlmfthepositions ptthefplatesn zarrdl -transversely "of the :machine z .are @determined :by the :guard platessassociatedatherewith. Itknvill :be

remembered, :.Yinzthisf;discussionathat thepr'imed f1 numeralsrshownzin Eig. :2 :designate parts -v'zl1ich correspond 2. tde-similar ,partsi associated rwithi-the carriage 22,.but rbrokeneawayf.iniliig. Thus;4 a

. plate" H12' iss.associatedawithxonessideiof theopening 74', A:while :ra asimilar-plate 21:03 Sis iassociatedmo `with the loppositeazsi'deiofzsaidLopening. Said plates |02' vand |103",4 aresformedwith -transversely extending slots `2111i' rwhich aengage securing bolts H15 and 4116.'. WithJ-satdlbolts loosened,

the plates L02 and M3fmayibefadjusteditrans-f versely of thefcoverzplateaand whensaifdfbolts .are v tightened down, the 'I p'iates will #be 'held lin adjusted position.

Associated with the opening 'f1.5 is ma similar upstanding from said carriage and fengageablez with the shoulders of a standard-space `lJancL'a finger upstanding from said carriage near said posts and intermediate thepositionsof said posts, a second finger on said carriage aligned udthrsaid therefrom, and independentmeans forfsecuring said ngers in .position on :said carriage, v`"said flngers being adjustable tower-.dana awayfrom "each Aother and being. respectively engagejble-Iin notches atoppositeends of.suchf.space"lbands, e545 presser element formed .tofprovide a plane :surface adapted to assume ayposition in cooperative relation to said carriage and" in contact with the exposedface of such space'band, means resiliently -sad frame for substantially coplanar reciprourging 'such vsurface into v:such contact, `'andV150 means for reciprocating said carriage to rub said exposed space band face against said surface.

2. A machine for cleaning space bands comprising a frame, a pair of carriages mounted in said frame for substantially coplanar reciprocation, means on each of said carriages for supporting a space band, means providing a plane surface engageable with the exposed face of each of such space bands, and common means for reciprocating said carriages relatively in opposite directions to rub each of said space bands against its cooperating plane surface.

3. A machine for cleaning space bands comprising a frame, a pair of lcarriages mounted in said frame for substantially coplanar reciprocation, means on each of said carriages for supporting a space band, means providing a plane surface engageable with the exposed face of each of such space bands, rotatable means journalled on said frame, an eccentric carried by said rotatable means, a pitman connecting said eccentric with one of said carriages, a second eccentric carried by said rotatable means, said two eccentrics being equidistant from the axis of said lrotatable means but being peripherally spaced apart mm-dia; secondp' :eeccentriawithfsaidlsecondicarriagafwherebyrotar'tionsof said? rotatablesmeansi produces equal :and -.opposite:reciprocationl ofsaidtwo-carriages.

anuconnecting-tsaid second .4. :A Imachine for cleaning 'space bands -comfzprisingf-.a frame, ,-.arpairf-of carriagesmounted in said ."frame for :substantially coplanar reciprocation,'fmeans on veach oftsaid'carriages for supporting-.ia 1 space band, means i providing a plane made,Y the'cbclts I 0 l e maybeiretightened: tfrsecnre i110 surfacezenga'geablefwith the exposed face of each ofrsaid space "bands, a shaft v journalled substan- 2 tiallyat'. itsf midpoint 'on saidl frame, a wheel' xed ion 'one end of f said wshaft, .an eccentric carried by saidwheelpazpitman'connecting said eccen- J5" tricto'one of saidcarriages,1a;second wheel iixed on the other end of saidshaft, asecond eccentric -carried 'by said-second-wheel, and a pitman con- .1 necting; saidi'second'eccentric to the other of said carriages, Vsaid `eccentrics being substantially sequidistant from they-axis ofsaid shaft but spaced apart fperipherally :substantially 180, whereby 'rotationotsaid'shaft produces-equal and opposite Ireciprocation of :said two carriages.

i5. A machine for'cleaning space bands comprising `aframaapairof carriages mounted in catiommeanson each vof said carriages for supporting aspaceband, means providing a plane 'surface-'engageable -With the exposed face of each ACif-'such spacebands, -a shaft journalled on said vfframe;alargefgearfiixedy on --said shaft, vrotatable `means journalled on said frame land including a Hsmallergear meshing With said 'first-named gear, an eccentric fcarried--fby-sai'd rotatable means, a ipitmanf'connectingsaid-eccentric with one of said l'carri-agesja second eccentric' carried by said rotatable means, and a second pitman connecting said "second eccentric lwith said second carriage, `'whereby"-rot-ation-of `said-rotatable means prorst-named iinger -and :longitudinally fspacedtiov ducesf'reciprocation -of 'both of said carriages.

f6. `=A machine for-cleaning space bands comprising 1a frarnalapair of carriages mounted in said frame 'for ysubstantially coplanar reciprocan,='means enfeach-fofsaid carriages for supportgia space band, means providing a plane surii'afce engageable with the-exposed face cf'each of such space bands, -a shaft iournalled on said. "iraniegalarge-gearixed ion said shaft, a Vsecond shaft'ljournalled -subs'tantiallyat its midpoint on fsaidramef-a-gear, smaller than said iirst-named gear, fixed on one end of said second shaft, an eccentric carried on the outer face of said gear, a pitman connecting said eccentric with one of said carriages, a wheel xed to the other end of said second shaft, a second eccentric carried on the outer face of said wheel, and a second pitman connecting said second eccentric with the other of said carriages.

7. A machine for cleaning space bands comprising a frame, a carriage supported for reciprocation in said frame, and adapted to support a space band, a cover for said frame, means for rel-easably securing said cover in place on said frame, and a presser member formed to provide a plane surface engageable with a space band supported on said carriage, when said cover is closed, said cover being formed intermediate its ends with a perforation, a plunger reciprocably mounted in said perforation, means pivotally supporting said presser member on said plunger, spring means urging said plunger toward said carriage, and means limiting the degree of movement of said plunger under the influence of said spring means.

8. A machine for cleaning space bands com- 2,439,911 v7 8 prising a frame, a carriage reciprocably mouni'fon said plunger'o'n an axis parallel with said plane ed in said frame and adapted to support a space but transverse to the line of movement of'said band, a cover for said frame, a presser member carriage, means adjustably carried by said cover formed to provide a plane surface engageable with adjacent its opposite endsand dening a pair of a space band supported on said carriage when said slots defining a line parallel with the line of movecover is closed, a plunger carried on said cover ment `of said carriage, and a pair of studs assofor reciprocation in a line normal to the plane of ciated with said presser member and guidingly rereciprocation of said carriage, spring means vurgceived in said slots, respectively. ing said plunger toward said plane, means limit- 11. A machine for cleaning space bands coming movement of said plunger in response to the l0 prising a frame, a carriage reciprocably mounted tendency of said spring means, means pivotally in said frame and adapted to support a space supporting said presser member on said plunger band, a cover for said frame, a presser member on an axis parallel with said plane but transverse formed to provide a plane surface engageable with to the line of movement of said carriage, and a space band supported on said carriage when\ means for guiding said presser member in its ossaid cover is closed, means adjustably mounted on cillation about said pivotal axis. said cover and defining a cylinder whose axis, 9. A machine for cleaning space bands comwhen said cover is closed, is substantially normal prising a frame, a carriage reciprocably mounted to the plane of reciprocation of said carriage, a inisaid frame and adapted to support a space plunger reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, band, a cover for said frame, a presser member spring meansi urging said plunger toward said formed to provide a plane surface engageble with plane, means limiting movement of said plunger a space band supported on said carriage when said in response to thetendency of said spring means,

cover is closed, a plunger carried on vsaid cover means pivotally supporting said presser member for reciprocation in a line normal to the plane of on said plunger on an axis parallel with said reoiprocation of said carriage, spring means urgplane but transverse to the line of movement of ing said plunger toward said plane, means 1imit said carriage, means adjustably carried by said .ing movement of said plunger in response to the cover adjacent its .opposite ends and deiining a tendency of said spring means, means pivotally pair of slots dening a line parallel'with the line 'supporting said presser member on said plunger of movement of said carriage, and a pair of studs on an axis parallel with said plane but transverse 3() associated with said presser member and guidingto the line of movement of said carriage, a pair of ly received in said slots, respectively.

slots in said cover defining a line intersecting the SAMUEL SOFNAS.

axis of reciprocation 0f said plunger and parallel with the line of movement of said carriage, and REFERENCES CITED a pair of studs associated with Seid presser mema5 The following references are of record in the ber and guidingly received in said slots, respecme of this patent: tively.

10. A machine for cleaning space bands com- UNITED STATES 'PATENTS prising a frame, a carriage reciprocably mounted Number Name Date in said frame and a-dapted `to support a space 40 325,610 Ingraham et al Sept. 1, 1885 band, a cover for said frame, a presser member 414,258 Schefold et al Nov. 5, 1889 formed to provide a plane surface -engageable with 785,593 Craig Mar. 21,1905 a space band Supported on said carriage when 1,257,047 Suverkrop Feb. 19, 1918 said cover is closed, a plunger carried on said 1,668,303 Bastian May 1, 1923 cover for reciprocation in a line normal to the 2,131,639 Rock Sept 27', 1938 plane of reciprocation of said carriage, spring 2,231,196 Romyns Feb. 11, 1941 means urging said plunger toward said plane, f

means limiting movement of said plunger in re- FOREIGN PATENTS spense to the tendency of said spring means, Number 'Country VDate means pivotally supporting said presser member 454,980 France sr-; May 8, 1913 

